+ On the same Lord's Day Angels appeared to the women. +

+ On the same day Peter and John came to the Sepulchre. +

+ On the same day He appeared to Magdalen. +

+ On the same day He appeared to the women. +

+ On the same day He appeared to two disciples on the way to Emmaus. +

+ On the same day He appeared to the disciples in the absence of Thomas. +

+ He appeared to the disciples and Thomas. +

+ Our Lord appears to seven disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. +

+ Jesus breakfasts with seven disciples. +

+ Our Lord appears on Mount Thabor. +

Mystic Monk Coffee - from the Traditional Carmelite Monks of Wyoming

Friday, December 17, 2010

The Way of Bethlehem

During the novena for Christmas we make the Way of Bethlehem. It's like the Way of the Cross only the subjects of the stations are taken from the mysteries of Christmas and Christ's infancy: The Son of God Becomes an Infant, Jesus is Born an Infant, Jesus is Nourished, Jesus is Wrapped in Swaddling Clothes, Jesus is Circumcised, Jesus is adored by the Magi, Jesus is Presented in the Temple, Jesus Flies into Egypt, Jesus is Freed from the Swaddling-bands, Jesus Begins to Walk, Jesus Sleeps, Jesus the Fisher of Men.

This year we set up a station in the Ave Marias (small anti-chamber of each cell) of the cells.

We processed from station to station, singing hymns between each.

Entering in to one of the Stations.

Each Ave Maria has a small altar which the occupant of the cell decorates. We use these for the stations.

V. Christ is at hand.R. Come let us worship Him.

Having completed the 12 stations the processions moves to the Chapel for the concluding prayer.

Knock, and it shall be opened to you. (Matt, 7:7)

The concluding prayers.

This morning the snow and fallen heavily, and continued all day. We tried very hard to get the cat to come in out of the snow, but she was quite content and took absolutely no notice of our entreaties!

5 comments:

Lovely post!! I love the idea of individual altars in each of the cells. And everyone processing from cell to cell. It's so comforting to know that you are all there in Papa Stronsay praying and praying and praying!

My thoughts keep going back between the image of the cat lying outside in the snow and the image of the open door and how often I have ignored the call of Our Lord to come within. Whether I don't hear due to the noise of the world or due to my own inclination to sin I am too often outside in the cold.

Domine non sum dignus...

Perhaps in justice to the cat I should state that I am an not casting aspersions, no doubt she is a very good cat.

Antisetimism

"Mark well that in the Catholic Mass, Abraham is our Patriarch and forefather. Antisemitism is incompatible with the lofty thought which that fact expresses. It is a movement with which we Christians can have nothing to do. No, no, I say to you it is impossible for a Christian to take part in Antisemitism. It is inadmissible. Through Christ and in Christ we are the spiritual progeny of Abraham. Spiritually, we [Christians] are all Semites."

Pope Pius XI

6 September 1938

Arms of the Royal House of Stuart

Arms of the Cardinal King Henry

King Henry IX of England, France and Ireland; King Henry I of Scotland; Defender of the Faith. 30 January 1788 - 26 September, 1803.